Saturday’s loss in Milwaukee answered a few questions about the Nets, showing just how far the gap is between a good and an elite. But this week’s games in Chicago and Miami will answer a different set of questions: Can the Nets start winning on the road? Can they handle being the hunted instead of the hunters? And can they consistently beat the teams they should?

Despite being 12-7 going into tonight’s tilt in Chicago – a half-game ahead of Boston atop the Atlantic Division and a game behind Detroit for the Eastern Conference lead – Byron Scott said they need to win games like tonight’s and Friday’s to take that next step to elite status.

“I think we’re a very good team, [but] I don’t think we’re at the top of the conference. I think Milwaukee is the best team in the East,” Scott said. “We didn’t play well against that team. It just shows we still have a ways to go to get to where they are.

“It’s a learning process. We have to understand these are two big games for us.”

Now they’re the team guarding against a letdown. They’re just 4-5 on the road, and have lost three straight away from the Meadowlands. But they’re facing a Chicago team that is just 4-15, and that they drilled 100-68 back on Nov. 27.

“We’re learning how to be the team that’s not chasing, but that’s being chased. We’re young and were learning how to do that,” said Jason Kidd. “[Chicago] beat Boston. They’re .500 at home. These are the type of [tests] that will help us become an elite team, by us coming out and playing and not taking anybody for granted. This week is a big week for us.

“We’re a good team, [but] there’s a lot of good teams in this league. The hard part is taking that next step.”